Figure 7.
Treatment with GF2 reduced the allergen-specific T-cell proliferative response in ovalbumin (OVA) -sensitized and OVA-challenged mice. One day after measuring the pulmonary function parameters, each group of mice was killed, and 3 × 105 spleen cells/well were stimulated with (a) OVA (10, 50 and 100 μg/ml) or (b) phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) (10 μg/ml) in vitro. After 3–5 days of culture, cell proliferation was estimated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. The stimulation index (S.I.) was calculated as the OD590 absorbent value of the stimulated wells divided by the OD590 absorbent value of untreated control wells. Results are expressed as the mean ± SEM of five to seven mice in each group. Experiments were repeated twice with similar results. *P<0·05; **P<0·01; and ***P<0·001 compared with the control group (OVA/phosphate-buffered saline). #P<0·05 and ##P<0·01 compared with the OVA/GF2 (1 μg) group.